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Friday, October 11, 2013

The Tattooed Jesus

If you live in or around Lubbock, Texas, you may have seen
the new billboards in that area which show Jesus, tattooed with words like
"fear," or "outcast" or a number of other words signifying
the sins and shortcomings of man.The
caption of the billboard adds more explanation when we read its words,
"Marked by our past, Transformed by love."

The billboards have sparked quite a controversy as some
religious groups like the message while others oppose it.Most of the opposition comes from a verse in
Leviticus 19:28 which states, "do not mark your bodies with tattoos."A closer look at the context reminds us that
was a time when pagans were infiltrating the Israelites, and a part of the
pagan lifestyle included tattoos.While
some would say that is a direct command to NOT get a tattoo, we must also note
just two verses prior to that says that men should not cut their beards or
their sideburns.So here we have another
example of isolating a verse to support one side of a discussion, and then we
grab our razors and feel innocent in making our faces hairless.The context of both the tattoos and the
shaving in this section of the scripture is advising us of the danger of
becoming identified as pagans if we shave or get a tattoo, and using those
verses to make both acts totally wrong robs us of the real message they are
delivering. I think I feel a Romans 14
moment coming on.......go read it!

Texas Monthly magazine has an article about the billboards,
and how divided the South Plains residents are in the opinions they
express.I want to go on record as
saying I refuse to take sides on the issue before knowing the motives of those
showing a tattooed Jesus. I must also say I have seen some tattoos that are in
good taste, but while saying that I also must say, "it's not for me."

The more I think about the billboards, I am leaning toward
congratulating those responsible for putting them up.They are showing everyone the basis of the
gospel message which we believe and share with others.It possibly is the best way I have seen in
getting a part of our society to know all those negative things, as seen in
Jesus' tattoos, are the very things we carry with us in life.They burden us and weigh us down to the point
we have nowhere to turn. However, Jesus
came and instructed us to cast our cares and burdens on him, and then he took
them to his cross.The greatest act
ever, showing love and forgiveness, and it's all put on Jesus as he gives his
life to pay for our sins. Glory to God!